WCW/NWO Thunder

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By IGN Staff

Update 11-12-'98: Check out these four new Quicktimes! Yahoooo!

When THQ got into the thick of its newest WCW/NWO title, Acclaim brought out one of the best wrestling games ever, WWF Warzone. Hard at work on Thunder, THQ didn't fret. It already had a concrete game plan. Instead of panicking and re-steering its efforts, THQ's plans already were bearing fruit. With a stream-lined, faster, and more muscular engine, more wrestlers and play modes, WCW/NWO Thunder is likely to bring wrestling fans the kind of dramatic, over-the-top showboating and hard-core fast-action gameplay that they've been dreaming of.

Now, many fans think that WCW/NWO Thunder is just going to be more of WCW Nitro, which appeared on the PlayStation last year. Well, you can kiss that idea good-bye. THQ isn't about to be wiped off the wrestling charts by the "new" upstart Acclaim. After its WCW license ends next year, THQ will start milking the WWF license for a honking 10 years. But that's actually getting ahead of the game a bit.

So, let's back up. WCW/NWO Thunder is aimed at the consummate wrestling fan, one who knows all of the moves, knows all of the players, and wants the feel, the atmosphere, the rage of the packed arena. If anyone has seen the Nintendo 64 WCW Revenge, with its long, slow intros and righteous intro music, then you've already gotten a brief feel for Thunder.

But THQ and developer Inland have changed other aspects of the game that should really please wrestling fans. Instead of using fantasy characters, such as bears and aliens, WCW/NWO Thunder will spotlight a whopping 32 initial wrestlers, and then be able to open up another 32 more (bonus characters), for a total of 64. In addition to more wrestlers, WCW/NWO Thunder will enable gamers to play in Cage Matches and a brand new Battle Royale mode, as well the standard competition for the world championship.

OK, so the atmosphere will be bigger and better, right. But how? For starters, a significant portion of the disc will be dedicated to crowd chants, waves of cheers, and of course, the intro music for each and every wrestler. THQ Producer Dave Hoffman explained, "We're working with the WCW to get real chants and sayings. We're going to arenas and actually recording them, and getting crowds to chant, 'Goldberg!' Our rings have Slamoree written all over them, and the whole pay-per-view atmosphere will be perfectly represented in Thunder. Also, we're taking pictures of actual coliseums, and unlike Warzone, our crowds animate."

Fine. But is that monster of wrestlers, Mr. Shoulder Muscles, Goldberg, in the game? Yes. Are all of my favorite wrestlers in here? According to THQ, all of the biggest names in the wrestling are here, Sting, Giant, Hollywood Hogan, Kidman, and an army of others.

Graphically, WCW/NWO Thunder looks at this point to be only partially completed. The real textured characters will be bigger than before, and much faster. Hoffman said that WCW/NWO Thunder will have a consistent clip of 30 frames per second, even when there are four characters on screen.

Well, there is much more to tell, and so little time to tell it in. I'll definitely update this preview in the next week or so with more info on this potential monster of a wrestler. Stick around!